India will visit Bangladesh on 18th November for an AFC Asian Cup qualifier in Group C, to be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka. However, this time, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri will not be part of the squad. Following the announcement of India’s provisional 23-man squad on Tuesday, 7th November, it was revealed that Indian coach Khalid Jamil has opted to give younger players an opportunity and has no plans to include Sunil Chhetri for this match.
In their previous encounter on Indian soil, Bangladesh secured a goalless draw, returning home with a point. However, that match was more of a formality as both teams had already been eliminated from the Asian Cup qualifiers. As such, Khalid Jamil’s focus for the upcoming fixture is primarily on testing new, young talent.
For this match, India’s strike force includes Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mohammad Sanan, Rahim Ali, and Bikram Pratap Singh. In goal, the team will rely on Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hrithik Tiwari, and Sahil. The defensive line-up includes Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bikas Yumnam, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Mohammad Uvais, Parambir, Rahul Beke, and Sandesh Jhingan. Midfielders selected are Ashiq Kuruniyan, Brison Fernandes, Lalremlungna Fanai, Macarton Lewis Nixon, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Prabhu, and Suresh Singh Wangjam.
India’s preparations for the match will begin on Thursday, 9th November, with a training camp in Bengaluru.
India’s Provisional Squad:
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Strikers | Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mohammad Sanan, Rahim Ali, Bikram Pratap Singh |
| Goalkeepers | Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hrithik Tiwari, Sahil |
| Defenders | Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bikas Yumnam, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Mohammad Uvais, Parambir, Rahul Beke, Sandesh Jhingan |
| Midfielders | Ashiq Kuruniyan, Brison Fernandes, Lalremlungna Fanai, Macarton Lewis Nixon, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam |
The Indian coach’s strategy for the upcoming match is centred around providing young players with valuable playing time, which could be crucial for the future of Indian football.